Student Lost on Y Mountain
March 6th, 2006 Summit
All I have to say is that I am very impressed with Elizabeth Kasper. She is the journalist who wrote the story about John Spelta, a freshman from Sandy, who managed to get lost on Y Mountain. If you haven’t read the story click here. The reason I am so impressed is because she was very neutral in her writing. I, on the other hand, was scratching my head and wondering how someone could be so absent-minded to lose their way on Y Mount
If you are not familiar with the hike up to the Y you should know that it is a short hike, maybe a mile, and you have a clear view of the valley at all times. This fact has led to a lot of confusion about how John got in the situation that he did. Did this guy just simply forget to turn around and notice the sprawling valley floor behind him? Did he forget that he had walked up hill the whole time and all that he needed to do now was take gravity’s advise and move down hill? From others I have only heard comments dripping with sarcasm. But, hey, good job Elizabeth! Way to not rip on him! Maybe she figured that making the story public was bad enough for the guy.
Entry Filed under: Whatever!
2 Comments Add your own
1. yaju | March 7th, 2006 at 11:50 am
[quote=”Summit”]…on the other hand, was scratching my head and wondering how someone could be so absent-minded to lose their way on Y Mount[/quote]
I agree that my intial reaction was the same since I have probably hiked the Y mountain all possible ways, trail and no trail, day and night etc…
But after reading the story, I guess I can sympathize.
The guy was indeed absent-minded, as in he could have been “suicidal” or something, and probably something struck him while he was on there to call 911, rather than deal with this thoughts in making his way down. Just my own theory!!
My positive twist on it is that the beautiful utah outdoors/nature/mountains saved his life, compared to if he was in an urban campus with no close outdoor recreation areas?
The journalist did a good job indeed in being neutral.
2. the log | April 10th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Also, I heard he lost one of his shoes in the snow (it came off I guess?) and his feet were freezing. For someone who has never experienced numb feet, it can be really scary… maybe he thought he was getting frostbite? Perhaps this was his first real experience in the outdoors, he was in all cotton, and after sweating and getting dehydrated and hungry, small fears became full-blown “I’M GONNA DIE!!!”
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